Symphony in Red

Item: Symphony in Red
Author: Jonathan Avants

(2005)

Reviewed by Jonathan Avants

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Spotify YouTube Music

Label Devotion MusicThe Phantom Tollbooth2005

ccm modern rock worship

Symphony in Red sees an all-star lineup of musicians putting a contemporary Christian rock/U2 spin on classic hymns and worship songs. Names include Billy Smiley (Whiteheart) and Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) playing guitars and bass respectively, and Bryan Olesen (Newsboys) contributing his voice to half of the record's songs.

Yet despite the experienced musicians working behind it, Symphony in Red is a disappointingly bland worship record. The classic "I Love You Lord" opens the record, but the Symphony cover turns the original song's quiet, contemplative melody into a jagged, bleary mess- repetitive piano lines clash with guitar soloing and Carson Joyner's constant utterances of the lead lyrical line, an ineffective attempt at modernizing the beautiful tune. The band covers U2 next, the impressive "Yahweh" from last year's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, but the version on this disc does little to differentiate itself from the U2 version, only impressing based on the song's own strong melody. The record doesn't get any better in later songs- "We Adore Thee (Joyful Joyful)", a take on the majestic "Hymn to Joy," suffers from the same problem found in the opening song: its uninspired contemporary rock styling clashes with rather than updates the original's melody.

The band doesn't feel tight enough, at times sounding closer to a Sunday worship band than a professional studio outfit. The production is oddly tinny in some places as well, further detracting from a professional sound. There are other oddities as well- the record features four lead singers, and I can't figure out why- only one of the lead singers is counted as a member of the band, and none of the guest singers add any special zest or unique take on the songs they sing. It feels completely unnecessary, and combined with the generic rock sound, rubs out any singular musical identity the band may have had.

Despite an effort to make an exciting worship release of updated hymns and songs, Symphony in Red falls short in too many ways to give it a recommendation. The band needs to seek their own inspired and unique sound and outlook in order to truly impress, and a great deal of polishing is also needed. As a first record, it falls very short, but with the experienced members involved with the act, perhaps they could find their way yet. Here's hoping.